Travis and Jessica's 400G Build

Pre-fill all those gaps with con-fill before taping and you'll be good to go. Biggest mistake guys make is trying to fill it with their regular drywall mud and tape over it.
 
Those are some great dimensions on that tank! Is the frame metal? I really want to do a tank that size someday only make it a peninsula. Following along to learn a thing or two!
 
Those are some great dimensions on that tank! Is the frame metal? I really want to do a tank that size someday only make it a peninsula. Following along to learn a thing or two!

Thanks, oldude's tank was our inspiration.

Yes the frame is metal. We wanted to do a peninsula too, but none of our rooms would work out floor support wise and really size wise either.
 
It looks like you picked the right spot for yours no doubt. Can see it from all the rooms you spend a lot of time in.
Best of luck, looking forward to more updates.
 
Going to get some plumbing stuff ordered tomorrow. Do you guys have any suggestions on anything you would or wouldn't do plumbing wise?

We are running our return pump submerged in the sump and we are also planning on probably running a RO Regal 300 internal skimmer, unless thats not big enough. For size/fish load reference we will have the 400g display filled with large tangs and the 300 gallon 48x60x24 sump/frag (not filled all the way, more like 200 gallons) with around 3 more large clean up tangs. Will the Regal 300 be able to handle that much fish load and water volume?
 
what are you doing for drain?, for sure use gate valve if you are running Beananimal or Herbie
-I have about 500 gallon total on a 330 gallon display, plan on large tangs and angels also and I'm running a Reef Octopus Regal 300 SSS; as you know can't tell you how it works yet though
 
Yes using gate valve for sure on the bean animal setup. Planning on using the union ball valves for easy maintenance.

I think the regal 300 should have it covered. Never hurts to get some opinions from the community just to be sure we are making the right purchase.

We are getting our shipment of rock in tomorrow. Pretty excited, here is a quote from Steve at Reef Rocks about our order "Your tank could accept large pieces so I went for it". He also had to use a crate for shipping he said the large rocks would not fit in boxes. Very excited to see what we got.
 
I've used reef rocks for both of my tanks and Steve is great to work with and the rocks are great too. No problems with phosphates for me. You should have had him throw in some sand though!
 
I've used reef rocks for both of my tanks and Steve is great to work with and the rocks are great too. No problems with phosphates for me. You should have had him throw in some sand though!

They were all sold out of the sand LOL. Steve is great. Good to hear you didn't have any phosphate problems! Did you wash them or soak them before you used them or just put them straight into the tank? Steve told me they were ready to go right into the tank as is, no problems at all.
 
I didn't know you could actually run out of sand! Its good sand too. A bit on the fine side but looks good.

I rinsed the rocks and sand just to get some fine debris off but just under tap water. My first tank had a hair algae outbreak in the first couple months but I attribute that more to new tank syndrome than anything in the rocks. In my second tank I have yet to see any algae grow on the rocks. The difference is I bought fresh live rock from the gulf of mexico for my first tank, my second tank I used just dry rock and a piece of live rock from my other tank.

Don't take my experience as fact of course. I've barely been doing this 2 years so I'm still learning. However I do believe Steve saying his rocks don't have much trapped phosphates is true. Of course if you want to be extra safe you won't hurt anything doing a muratic acid bath.
 
I didn't know you could actually run out of sand! Its good sand too. A bit on the fine side but looks good.

I rinsed the rocks and sand just to get some fine debris off but just under tap water. My first tank had a hair algae outbreak in the first couple months but I attribute that more to new tank syndrome than anything in the rocks. In my second tank I have yet to see any algae grow on the rocks. The difference is I bought fresh live rock from the gulf of mexico for my first tank, my second tank I used just dry rock and a piece of live rock from my other tank.

Don't take my experience as fact of course. I've barely been doing this 2 years so I'm still learning. However I do believe Steve saying his rocks don't have much trapped phosphates is true. Of course if you want to be extra safe you won't hurt anything doing a muratic acid bath.

Cool, good to hear!
 
Hit the road block ordering plumbing supplies. The Fluval SP6 return pump uses 1.25" NPT inlet and outlet, it also comes with a barbed fitting that reduces it to 1". I wanted to try not to reduce the return line size down at all but looks like we may have to drop it down to 1". If we go down to 1" maybe I can split the returns basically right at the pump so its dual 1", and from there just have one heading to each side of the tank.

Any advice appreciated :)
 
Hit the road block ordering plumbing supplies. The Fluval SP6 return pump uses 1.25" NPT inlet and outlet, it also comes with a barbed fitting that reduces it to 1". I wanted to try not to reduce the return line size down at all but looks like we may have to drop it down to 1". If we go down to 1" maybe I can split the returns basically right at the pump so its dual 1", and from there just have one heading to each side of the tank.

Any advice appreciated :)

what about bumping up to 1.5"

http://www.marinedepot.com/Insert_F...ttings-Plumbing_Parts-FT6533-FIFTFIHB-vi.html

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem.aspx?idProduct=FT4933&child=FT4967
 

Ideally that is exactly what I want to do and then tee it off into two 1" sections at the top trim to return on both ends . Having a hard time finding any good fittings. The pump is male 1.25" and the problem I am having is tracking down any 1.25" female threaded fittings that don't reduce down. I am sure I can find something at a plumbing store online. Have not seen anything on any of the popular saltwater dry goods websites though.
 
Rock has landed! Steve @ Reef Rocks really took care of us! For size comparison the top of the crate the one large rock it sitting on is 32"x48"...




Trying to figure out where to go from here. Thinking about setting up cardboard the size of the tank and making an aquascape we like on top of it, then drilling and zip-tying the rock together. From there right into the tank it goes and the sand goes in right after that.
 
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